Posted on Mar 10, 2014
Do prior enlisted service members make better officers?
102K
470
216
24
24
0
I've talked with many officers throughout my career. I've noticed most have the ability to effectively lead and guide enlisted members. Most (not all) of the officers I've seen who are truly among the best are prior enlisted. Do you think being enlisted contributes to the leadership effectiveness of officers?
Training
Enlisted
Officers
Military Career
Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 109
Suspended Profile
I'm also a Mustang. That being said, I've met plenty of clueless Mustangs, and plenty of amazing officers who were never enlisted.
I would avoid painting with a broad brush...
I would avoid painting with a broad brush...
CMSgt Mark Schubert
Thank you Sir! There are always exceptions - sometimes I think it's helpful to understand the general direction of the majority! :-)
(0)
(0)
2
2
0
No doubt about it. Absolutely! They know what it felt like to be a Private, Specialist, etc. And I submit that there is no substitute for that experience. None.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
That's a great question Chief.
I've always heard that prior enlisted make the best officers, and I swear I can tell if an officer is prior enlisted - but I haven't thought about it much.
The most impact where prior enlisted make a difference is by having an insight and greater respect for the real meat of the military - the enlisted folks. SGT Boettcher (below) and many other inputs have indicated this same feeling. I have caught myself sometimes even calling a Chief "Sir", and not correcting it. The E8s and E9s carry the entire military on their backs - just my opinion.
To sum it up - prior enlisted make better officers because they remember where they came from, and subsequently they know the shoes the E1 through E9 are walking in.
I've always heard that prior enlisted make the best officers, and I swear I can tell if an officer is prior enlisted - but I haven't thought about it much.
The most impact where prior enlisted make a difference is by having an insight and greater respect for the real meat of the military - the enlisted folks. SGT Boettcher (below) and many other inputs have indicated this same feeling. I have caught myself sometimes even calling a Chief "Sir", and not correcting it. The E8s and E9s carry the entire military on their backs - just my opinion.
To sum it up - prior enlisted make better officers because they remember where they came from, and subsequently they know the shoes the E1 through E9 are walking in.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
I wouldn't give a blanket opinion on whether they are always better, but as a prior enlisted officer, I have a unique view of the enlisted perspective and their view of leadership and the world. That has helped me countless times in decision-making. However, I have seen a relative handful of mustangs that never completely make the officer transition.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
Depends totally on the individual. I have worked with mustangs that are great and respect where you are coming from and understand the enlisted point of view. At the same time I have worked with those that won't take the chevrons off. Officers trying to get into the inner workings of the enlisted just rubs me the wrong way.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
I not only believe prior enlisted do not necessarily make better officers but I also KNOW this to be true. I say this because I have seen a mixture of good and bad officers throughout my career. The officers come from a mixture of service entry from ROTC to West Point to Green/Gold. Some officers who have never previously served were great officers. Others not so great. Some officers who were prior NCOs were great, and some were just horrible. I can think of two who were just downright nasty and disrespectful to soldiers and NCOs. Both tended to be wrong in many things but they still got promoted.
(2)
(0)
SSG (Join to see)
Capt Jeff S., I would hope so but some of them are politicians and know how to game the system. Those of us who have been doing the work know the truth and can see right through them.
(1)
(0)
MSG(P) Michael Warrick
Absolutely they do !! They have been enlisted and have a better insight of how the NCO Corp. works and how to make things happen !
(1)
(0)
MSG (Join to see)
I whole heartedly believe that this is true. I say that because they know how to be an NCO, how we think and they understand what we do much better.
(1)
(0)
2
2
0
I like to think so. We have a kind of street credibility but it really means nothing if we don't adapt to the O ways and apply our previous lives experience in a positive way. I remember how it felt to be on the receiving end of bad orders and foggy missions. I hope I bring better clarity as a result.
(2)
(0)
SFC (Join to see)
The short answer is Yes. However this can be a double edged sword. Their knowledge and experience are great but, I have seen some that still like to get into NCO business. I have been fortunate in my career so far that this hasn't really happened to me although I have witnessed it.
(2)
(0)
LTC (Join to see)
Sadly, the degree of officer meddling in often inversely proportional to the quality of NCOs running a shop. Finding the line between the two worlds is always a work in progress. SFC (Join to see) makes a great point, it's a double edged sword.
(1)
(0)
Capt Jeff S.
When people are taken out of their comfort zone, they tend to go back to what is familiar. For prior enlisted, it may be getting in the troop's business. I was fortunate in the sense that I went from a technical background in Avionics to a field (Intelligence) that isn't closely related. I was good with computers and that part helped but the communications skills required to be a good intelligence officer are much different than the troubleshooting skills required to be a good technician. I had to seek counsel from my SNCO's for their knowledge and experience, which I lacked initially, and I was blessed to have some good ones.
Earlier or perhaps in another thread someone had mentioned something about their desire to be the kind of officer that they desired when they were troops. I too endeavered to be that kind of officer and not come off as aloof or arrogant. I always sent my guys to schools if I could do that for them (even if we had to go short-handed and pick up the slack for a few weeks) and did what I could in terms of recommendations to help them advance their careers. What goes around comes around.
Earlier or perhaps in another thread someone had mentioned something about their desire to be the kind of officer that they desired when they were troops. I too endeavered to be that kind of officer and not come off as aloof or arrogant. I always sent my guys to schools if I could do that for them (even if we had to go short-handed and pick up the slack for a few weeks) and did what I could in terms of recommendations to help them advance their careers. What goes around comes around.
(1)
(0)
2
2
0
You would think, You would hope. One of the Finest I ever served under CWO Robert Payne was just top of the line but one of the biggest dirtballs I ever served under was a CWO too. So I don't think it gives you any better quality necessarily.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
I like the reference that was used in a previous post as "more rounded". I think that an officer that has previous enlisted experience most of the time is a "more rounded" officer. There are some exceptional Mustangs, and some that are sub-par. I have seen an E-6 that had been unable to advance further in the enlisted ranks receive their commission and be a sub par officer because they still acted as an E-5. I think it just comes down to what type of person they are to begin with and if they are prior enlisted why they went officer. I do believe that Mustangs have a greater situational awareness of enlisted issues.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
Honestly, NO. It might help a bit when they are a young Platoon Leader. But after that an officer's jobs, duty and responsibilities split so far from the realm of NCOs that the experience is not as relevant anymore.
(2)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google